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Long Stratton couple, Richard and Cissie Pettengell, celebrate 70th wedding anniversary




Keeping the laughter rolling has been the secret to a long marriage for a Long Stratton couple, who have been together for more than seven decades.

Richard and Cissie Pettengell, who are both 91, celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary on July19, having first met in 1951, when Mr Pettengell was in the RAF.

“I come from Paisley in Scotland and my younger sister’s boyfriend played football for St Mirren FC,” recalled Mrs Pettengell.

Cissie and Richard Pettengell from Long Stratton have celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary. Picture: Mark Bullimore
Cissie and Richard Pettengell from Long Stratton have celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary. Picture: Mark Bullimore

“They were short of a goalkeeper and they asked Rickie, who played for Norwich City’s amateur team, to come and play. That was when he met the love of his life.”

The pair married at Orr Square Church in Paisley in 1954, making it a double celebration for Mrs Pettengell, who turned 21 on the day.

After finishing National Service, the pair moved to Long Stratton to work at Mr Pettengell’s family bakery.

Cissie and Richard Pettengell from Long Stratton have celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary. Picture: Mark Bullimore
Cissie and Richard Pettengell from Long Stratton have celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary. Picture: Mark Bullimore

In 1976, they took sole control of Pettengell’s Bakery, which they ran until 1988.

“We loved our time at the bakery,” said Mrs Pettengell. “The staff and our customers were fantastic.

“We would have events and parties at the back of the bakery for different club. They were lovely times.”

The couple still bake, with Mr Pettengell making their anniversary cake, and they cater for Dunston Hall golfers, where they were members.

Cissie and Richard Pettengell from Long Stratton have celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary. Picture: Mark Bullimore
Cissie and Richard Pettengell from Long Stratton have celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary. Picture: Mark Bullimore

It has not always been easy, with Mr Pettengell overcoming bowel cancer and his wife beating breast cancer.

Through it all, though, they had tried to maintain a positive outlook.

Mrs Pettengell said: “Our secret has always been to take the mickey out of one another, say naughty things and keep the laughter rolling.

Cissie and Richard Pettengell from Long Stratton have celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary. Picture: Mark Bullimore
Cissie and Richard Pettengell from Long Stratton have celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary. Picture: Mark Bullimore

“Life is for living. My mother used to say that you don’t leave this world until God has finished with you and that has stuck by me ever since.”

The pair have three sons, Charles, Raymond and James, four grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.



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